Patrol - Dispatch - Investigations

The Patrol Section of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to providing law enforcement services within the unincorporated areas of Canyon County as well as providing contract services for the City of Middleton. The patrol section is the second largest section within the Sheriff’s Office.

The section consists of more than 40 patrol deputies who are assigned to patrol teams directly supervised by a team Sergeant and Corporal. The Sergeant is responsible for the day to day operation of the patrol team. The patrol teams handle the initial response to 911 calls, deal with all types of calls and complete the initial report of criminal activity. They are the most visible police presence in the community and it is their job to provide primary law enforcement services to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Patrol deputies are responsible for protecting 385,194 Acres of land including 2,154 miles of roadway.

The specialty units assigned to the Patrol Section are the K-9 unit, the Traffic Unit and Civil Patrol. They are comprised of several deputies that have made the decision to focus on their area of expertise.

The Patrol Section is under the direct supervision of Lt. Donia Ballard and Lt. Bill Adams. Contact Lt. Ballard: dballard@canyonco.org

The Canyon County Communications Center receives non-emergency and emergency calls, in which they evaluate, dispatch or refer to the proper agency. The Communications Center works closely with all local Law Enforcement agencies, Fire Departments and Ambulance Services to ensure an efficient response to emergencies in Canyon County. The Communications Center consists of more than 20 Communications Officers and Call Takers. The Communications Center is staffed to cover 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The Criminal Investigations Section of the Sheriff’s Office is currently comprised of 21 officers and support staff members. Within the section, investigators are assigned to teams of specific disciplines. These teams include Crimes Against Persons, Property Crimes, Financial Crimes and Fraud, Narcotics and Special Enforcement.

The Investigations Section primary function deals with follow-up investigations of reports generated through the Patrol Section of the Sheriff’s Office. In addition, investigators may initiate their own cases. As the population of the County continues to grow, so do the activities of our Office.

In 2006, a federal grant provided the position of Victim Witness Coordinator to the Sheriff’s Office. This position is designed to assist victims and witnesses of crime from the earliest stages of the incident, including assistance referrals, education of the investigation and court procedures and support through the process of a case being prepared for prosecution.

Crimes Against Persons

208-454-7480

The Investigators assigned to the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Persons Unit are responsible for investigating serious violent crimes such as homicides, suspicious deaths, abductions, sex crimes, violent assaults and domestic violence. Detectives assigned to this unit are highly skilled Investigators who have earned their positions by demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities crucial to a successful Investigator. Detectives cover all aspects of an investigation. They must work closely with prosecutors, forensic investigators, lab personnel, and other law enforcement officials.

The Crimes Against Persons Unit combats crime by conducting prompt and diligent investigations. Investigators maximize the use of all available technological resources and traditional investigative methods to solve crimes, track down and apprehend suspects and to locate missing persons and runaways.

The Crimes Against Persons Unit has a Victim/Witness Coordinator. The Coordinator works closely with victims, witnesses, and family members to keep them apprised of case development as well as assisting in meeting other needs they have.

All four of the investigators also have additional responsibilities that represent the Sheriff’s Office on a professional level. The additional assignments include Amber Alert / Missing Persons Task Force, SART / CART teams, composite artist and SWAT.

Financial Crime

208-454-7483 or call Dispatch 24/7 208-454-7531

The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit is responsible for investigating a wide range of complex financial crimes including Fraud, Theft by Deception and Theft by False Promise.

Fraud
Fraud occurs when a person knowingly or intentionally conceals, misrepresents, and makes false statement to either deny or obtain some monetary benefit, or otherwise profit from the victim. The key to conviction is proving in court that the suspect knowingly or intentionally made the misrepresentation or concealment.

The following are some of the more common financial crimes investigated by the Financial Crimes Unit of the Sheriff’s Office:Elder Abuse/Fiduciary Fraud
Elder Abuse/Fiduciary Fraud typically involves a caretaker, and acquaintance or even a family member. The victims of these crimes are the elderly or vulnerable adults who often suffer from physical or mental disabilities, making daily life difficult. The suspect gains control over the victim’s assets. Once in control, the suspect will usually drain the victim’s accounts and transfer assets to themselves. These crimes against elderly and vulnerable adults are prosecuted under Idaho Statute.

Identity Theft
Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States with over nine million victims annually. This crime will impact one out of every four people. Identity theft is when a suspect gains access to your personal information and/or account numbers, then assumes your identity and goes on a spending spree. It is an invisible crime that victims only discover after they receive a bill, collection notice or attempt to make a large purchase such as a car, and then realize their credit has been destroyed.

Not only do identity theft victims spend money out of pocket to clear up their records, but they also must devote their time-up to hundreds of hours in some cases doing so. In the meantime, victims are unjustly harassed by debt collectors, denied credit or employment opportunities, and in some cases even lose their cars, or their homes.

You don’t have to be a victim of identity theft for personal information to fall into the wrong hands. In the course of a busy day, how often might you share information about yourself in person, on the phone, or over the internet? Although it is impossible to guarantee that identity theft won’t happen to you, there are ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Most victims don’t discover the crime until it is too late. It can take a long time to reverse the damage these criminals can do to your credit rating. Any of these indicators could mean that you have become a victim of identity theft:

Mysterious bills for accounts you are not aware of

Phone calls from creditors about delinquent payments you don’t recognize

Mail from unknown lenders asking for additional information

What to do if you believe you are a victim
If you believe you are the victim of a Fraud or an Identity Theft crime, contact your local Sheriff’s Office or Police Department to report the crime, and:

Notify your financial institutions and ask if they have an identity theft assistance program

Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax / Experian / Transunion) and request a “Fraud Alert” to be placed in your credit file

Complete any “Affidavit of Forgery” form that creditors may require and provide a copy of the police report if requested

Send a “dispute letter” to any of the companies that issued your misused account asking them to remove the charges

If you feel that legitimate accounts may have been compromised, contact those financial institutions right away

As a victim, it is highly recommended that you contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the fraud and file a complaint. The FTC is the national repository for tracking identity theft frauds. Click here to electronically file your FTC Identity Theft Complaint Input Form.

Keep a record of credit bureaus, banks and law enforcement agencies you have contacted while attempting to clear up your credit file

If you suspect Social Security number misuse, call the Social Security Fraud Line at (800) 269-0271. You can also file a complaint online at http:www.socialsecurity.gov/oig

Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim
Avoiding identity theft is not simple, but there are several common sense things customers can do:

Keep personal information in a safe place and avoid storing important documents in easily accessible places like glove boxes or day planners

Don’t give your social security or account number over the phone to anyone who has called you, or to anyone you don’t know. Don’t be afraid to ask why your personal information is needed and how it will be used

Shred all documents that contain personal information before tossing them out. Never simply toss out documents that contain your social security number in the trash.

PHISHING Con E-Mail: This is a term used when the identity thieves send out a very official looking E-mail to try and get you to provide them with your personal information. They will try to fool you into thinking your bank has sent the E-mail by placing the bank’s logo in the message. The E-mail will ask you to verify your personal information, i.e. your social security number or account number. Once the identity thieves have this information they may use it to apply for new credit in your name, or make a withdrawal from your account. Your bank already has this information and will never ask you to verify this information via E-mail. Be very aware of this type of scheme.

Narcotics

The County-City Narcotics Unit page is currently under construction. Please excuse the inconvenience. For Narcotics information please call 208-453-2280.

Property Crimes

208-454-7480

The Property Crimes Unit is responsible for following up on the initial efforts of PATROL by investigating crimes in which the primary motive is financial gain. These types of offenses account for the majority of the crimes committed within our community and include residential, commercial and vehicle burglary, theft, arson, vandalism and various other property related offenses.

Though the primary focus of the Unit is to recover stolen property and seek successful prosecution of the offender(s) related to these cases after the fact, investigators in the Unit often employ proven proactive strategies during the course of their investigations to deter and/or prevent these types of crimes from re-occurring in the future.

The Unit consists of three highly trained investigators with over 64 combined years of Law Enforcement experience. Notwithstanding their general responsibilities, each investigator in the unit is tasked with specialized details within their field; with these types of unique cases respectively assigned based on the investigator’s particular emphasis or specialty. These include:

Auto, residential and commercial thefts

Arson investigation

Pawn/Salvage oversight

Surveillance operations

Vandalism/graffiti

Firearm related offenses

If you experience a theft of property in Canyon County and would like to file our Citizen Report of Property Crime, please read the following conditions to see if they apply:

(All four conditions must be met for the use of this report. If your situation does not meet with all four conditions, please call our non-emergency dispatch center at 208-454-7531 to file a report with a Deputy)

To simply record a crime: at the request of an insurance company or for informational purposes when no further investigation is likely to follow.

There is no suspect or any evidence which might lead to a suspect in this case.

When the total value of property generally does not exceed $2500.00.

No physical injury or assault resulted during this crime.

If you have read and understand the conditions for this report and wish to file a Citizen Report of Property Crime, Click below. (you may type on the form and then print it out, if you wish.)

*Note* The Citizen Report of Property Crime MUST be signed and mailed or delivered to our Records Office. The report is not valid without a signature. Please read the directions and qualifications for this report prior to downloading and submitting it to our Office.

The mission of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services team is the collection, processing, analysis and storage of evidentiary items involving criminal cases. The Forensic Services team will perform these tasks with professionalism, excellence, and integrity while finding the truth through forensics. The team consists of 5 members, each with training in multiple disciplines related to crime scene investigation and evidence processing including evidence collection and management, latent print processing and examination, crime scene processing and analysis, forensic dentistry,forensic chemistry, blood spatter analysis, forensic photography, and serial number restoration. The team is not only responsible for activities within the confines of the lab, but they will also respond to locations in the field to provide additional assistance as well as training in various areas of crime scene and evidence management.

The Marine Patrol Section of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office is managed by Lieutenant Ben Keyes. Lieutenant Keyes has served the county in Marine Patrol since 1982. He has achieved his POST Advanced Certificate and is one of four people in the state who qualify as a Master Instructor in Marine Law Enforcement. Lieutenant Keyes teaches at all current Marine Law Enforcement classes offered by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Canyon County Marine Patrol Section provides service to the citizens of the county 24 hours a day. The mission of Marine Patrol is promoting safe and enjoyable water recreation through public interaction at waterways and providing free boating education throughout the year by trained instructors. Members of the Marine Patrol Section strive to live up to our Sheriff’s motto, “Expect the Best” by being compassionate, competent, reliable and consistent in our approach to Marine Law Enforcement.

The Marine Section responds to all water related calls for service, boating accidents, water rescues, and search and recovery operations. There are 52 miles of the Snake River, 26 miles of the Boise River, Lake Lowell and numerous canals in Canyon County which the Marine Patrol may be asked to respond too. The Marine Patrol Section will, when requested, respond to assist other counties with their search and rescue operations.

The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol has and is willing to go to schools to teach water safety and boating safety to all ages. Call 454-7531 and ask to speak with a deputy in Marine Patrol Section.

Field Services

Field Services of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office is under the administration of Captain Bill Adams. The Field Services Section includes Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Communications (Dispatch), Marine Patrol, Records and Driver’s License.

Captain Adams holds a POST Management Certificate and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command College. Lt. Adams has served the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office since 1990.

Criminal Investigations

The Criminal Investigations Section is divided into six specific disciplines and supplemented by an on-site Forensics Lab. This section is managed by Lieutenant Mike Armstrong.

In addition to his normal investigative responsibilities, Lieutenant Armstrong serves as the agency’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) Commander and oversees Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT), the Critical Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT).

Patrol

The Patrol Section is the most visible section of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office. This section is divided into three County Sectors, which are managed by Lieutenant Donia Ballard and Lieutenant Todd Herrera.

Lieutenant Donia Ballard holds a POST Management Certificate and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command College. Lt. Ballard has served the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office since 1992.

Marine Patrol

The Marine Patrol Section is managed by Lt. Ben Keyes. Lt. Keyes has served the county in Marine Patrol since 1982. He has achieved POST Advanced Certification and is one of four people in the State of Idaho who qualify as a Master Instructor in Marine Law Enforcement. Lt. Keyes is an instructor for all current Marine Law Enforcement classes offered by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

Communications & Warrants

Our Communications Section (dispatch) and Warrants are managed by Roxanne Wade. Roxanne has a total of 22 years of Public Safety Communications experience and holds a Communications Supervisor Certificate. She has completed the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch-Communications Center Manager course. Roxanne has worked for the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office for the past 18 years.

Emergency Management

Lt. David Schorzman is Canyon County’s Emergency Management Coordinator and supervises the Field Services Support Units; Driver’s License , Records and Civil Process . Emergency Management encompasses preparation, response, and recovery to emergencies or natural disasters. Lt. Schorzman works with many different stakeholders in Canyon County to mitigate the damage of natural disasters or other crises. Lt. Schorzman’s education includes an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Boise State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from George Fox University. Lt. Schorzman holds a POST Master Certificate and has served the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office since 1994.

Address

Email

Phone

P 208-454-7510

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Hours

Weekdays 8am – 5pm
(excluding holidays)

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NOTICE

ATTORNEYS: If you have a client in custody within our facility and would like your calls to or from your client to be without charge and protected from recording and or monitoring please contact classifications at 208-455-5977.